Amazing weather as of late, summer is in full swing if I should say so and everywhere one sees more than the occasional floral shirt and sando worn to places other than the beach or luau themed party. The good weather was appropriate as Mazda threw a SKYACTIV experience at Fort Bonifacio high street to get people in on the action of what the torquey high compression system coupled with the new KODO design is all about. First of, the thing that I noticed first in addition to the two models in red on the floor (the cars, gentlemen!) was the overall look of the structure Mazda had erected seemingly instantly. It looked really high end with the prolific use of black and shiny materials which drive the fact that they’ve added a few healthy servings of premium. It’s like the brand grew up with their market. This doesn’t change the fact though that Mazda is still able to maintain the multifaceted vehicles that lets one double zoom zooming around, indulging in your weekend warrioring whilst shuttling around your loved ones dependably as well.
Enter the Mazda 3s interior (specifically the cockpit), you are enveloped in tactile synthetic materials, carbon fiber inlays and the feel that today is going to be exciting. The heads up display speedometer/navigation gives us one features usually reserved for the top tier european cars.
It takes a split-second to look away from the road and to your speedometer, the same time it takes for a person, animal, or object to suddenly obstruct your path which can spell disaster. Good thing you never have to take your eyes of the road with the new HUD speedometer. You are also definitely safe and sound with ABS with electronic brake-force distribution and Dynamic stability control.
The 7-inch easy to view touchscreen display which controls communication, navigation, and music among others looks stunning and combined with the premium choice of materials and finishes for the dash. It is also part of the new HMI (Human-Machine Interface) concept which seamlessly informs the driver about navigation
KODO expresses the soul of motion, a continuing evolution of exterior design which can give a car the look that it’s running 100MPH just by standing still. Mazda Design has tapped into animals’ appearance of instantaneous movement, tension, and strength to bring forth their latest designs.
The 2.0-liter R SKYACTIV Mazda 3 has automatic bi-xenon headlamps with DRL, power-folding side mirrors, 18-inch alloy wheels, dual exhaust tailpipes, a sunroof, smart keyless-entry system, leather upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel and additional curtain airbags.
The shark fin antenna which add to the overall aggressive look of the car.
Personally, I prefer the hatchback because of it’s versatility for certain activities but I believe many will appreciate the traditional sedan variant. The prices are as follows for the Made in Japan Mazda 3s.
Mazda 3 1.5L V SKYACTIV hatchback – Php 948,000
Mazda 3 1.5L V SKYACTIV sedan – Php 945,000
Mazda 3 2.0-liter R SKYACTIV hatchback – Php, 1,198,000
Mazda 3 2.0-liter R SKYACTIV sedan – Php 1,195,000
The mighty SKYACTIV, as I’ve written before is one of many things that continue to surprise me as Mazda has chosen to go against the current trend of “downsizing” engines and focusing more on turbos and whatnot. The Mazda I was allowed to test-drive was a 2.0 variant that after experiencing its ability to take to the “speedy” corners around bonifacio high street and the responsive acceleration. Don’t let the standard displacement size fool you, this baby is very frugal when it comes to fuel consumption thanks to the new SKYACTIV engines.
